Floor buffer



HALQSJDISQ W. N. ROBIRDS, JR

Sept. 18 1923.

FLOOR BUFFER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24 1921 I 1N1 'EN TOR.

.4 TTORNEY.

Sept. 18 1923, V 1,46%,Q8U

W N. RoBlRDs. JR

FLOOR BUFFER Filed March 24, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I v w 05m WM 4 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Z 5 I I 1 f 22 Z5 \X 1 N V EN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 18, 1923.

a sfs WILLIAM H. ItOBIRlDS, J 3., OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA.

- FLOOR Burma.

Application filled March 24, 1921. Serial Nol 455,024.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM N. Ronrnns, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Monica, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in -Floor Buffers, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to pro- -1 ,vide a floor buffer or the like including a rotatable buffer or brush, which is readily movable with relation to the frame of the device for adjusting the engagement between the buffer or brush and the surface over which it moves.

More specifically it is the object of the invention to provide a' movable frame carried upon wheels, and supporting the adjustable buffer or brush, and also supporting means,

such as an electric motor, for rotating'the buffer, the driving connection between the motor and brush being so arranged as to provide for vertical adjustment of the buffor while maintaining said driving connection,

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the lirfe 3-73 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation "showing the driving connection between the buffer and its motor with the side of thecasing for the device removed.

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the -line 5 5 of Fig. 1'. r

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the buffer and the mandrel upon which it is mounted.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sec tional View of one of the adjustable supporting means for the shaft and brush.

The improved buffer consists of a casing 1 having side plates 2 and 3. Wheels 4 are provided upon stub shafts 5 projecting from side plates 2 and 3 at the lower edge of the front of the buffer casing. One of the side plates, shown as side plate 2, is continued rearwardly and upwardly as shown at 2*, so as to form a cover for a casing 6 projecting rearwardly andupwardly from one side of easing 1, and this extension 2 terminates in a depending arm 7 supporting a wheel 4. upon a stub shaft 5 at the lower edge of the rear of the device. The side plate 3 is provided with a rearward extension 3, which supports a similar wheel 4 upon a stub shaft 5*. A suitable electric motor 8 is mounted in rear of casing 1 and is supported thereby, and the shaft of this motor extends within casing 6, and is provided with a pulley 9, over which is received a belt 10 for actuatirig the buffer or brush of the machine.

Thmbuffer carried by the machine, includes a shaft 12 having a mandrel 13 mounted thereon, and provided with the bufling element. In the present instance this element is shown as detachable from the mandrel so that various elements may be employed, and the specific element illustrated includes a flexible backing 14 received around the mandrel and secured by fastenings 14c with bristles 15 projecting from said backing. It will be understood that any other suitable element such as a cloth covered buffing element or a sheet of sand paper may be used.

End plates 15 are fixed to mandrel 13, and one of the same is formed as a pulley 16, over which belt 10 is received, so that the electric motor 8 will rotate the bufling element. The ends of shaft 12 are received through suitable slots 18 provided in said plates 2 and 3 so that the butting element may be moved in said slots for adjusting the contact between the same and the surface over whichthe device is moved, or may be removed entirely from the machine. The slots 18 are so curved as to maintain driving belt 10 taut, irrespective of the position in said slots to which the bufiing element is adjusted.

The means for retaining the ends of shaft 12 in adjusted positions within slots 18, preferably, includes bearings 20 received upon said shaft ends, and provided with flanges 21-- engaging the inner surfaces of the walls of slots 18. The outer ends of these bearings are threaded as shown at 22,

bers adapted to be a-lined with the scale markings for moving the butter element to a predetermined position.

A suitable handle is, preferably, provided for the device, including .a yoke 25. having its ends pivoted to the casing of the machine as shown at 26, and also having a handle QT extending rearwardly from said yoke. Suitable pro ectmg means shown as a strip 28 of vieldable material, such as rubber, is

preferably provided around the lower edge of the casing of the machine in order to not mar furniture or the like against which the butter may be moved.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an extremely simple butter construction,

wherein the butter or brush is rotated by af suitable motor mounted upon the device,

and wherein the buffer is readily adjustableup and down, so as'to vary its contact with a surface to'be polished.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

lVhat is claimed is: 1. A device of the character described comprising a casing, side plates secured to the casing and formed with inclined slots, a buffer sustaining shaft having its'ends extending luLO the slots, cup-shaped bearing members receiving the ends of said shaft, and slidable in said sl'ots', flanges formed on the inner ends ofthe members for engagement with the inner sides of the side plates, andendcaps threadedly engaging said members and disposed at the outer SKl GSOf said plates co-cooperate with said flanges 1n locking the members in any. ad-

,justed position within said slots.

2. devicc of the character described conqn-ising a casing having slots therein, amovable. member, a driving member, for the movable member, a rotatable member carried by the movable member for engaging said casing for clamping the'rotatable member in any adjusted'position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WM. N. ROBIRDS. at. 

